20th May 2022, Weekly Update

1. Discerning Priorities

In early April we had a fantastic brainstorming session and you generated over 400 post-it notes. Similar ideas were grouped and you were offered 55 ideas. I asked you to pray and then select three ideas that you thought should be a priority. 125 of you did. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

What were we expecting?  That, in some way, God would show us what we need to do in the future as we aim to Grow Young.

Looking at the results I think God is speaking to us – though not quite in the way I expected.  A display of the top responses has been put on the noticeboard outside the office, and is attached to this email.  I invite you to have a look at it. I intend to offer a perspective on this list next Sunday, 29 May.

2. Games & Quiz Night For Ukrainian Refugees

On Saturday 28th May, 7-9pm. Our Youth Fellowship has organised a fun night of games, quizzes! Tickets are £5 each, drinks and snacks will be available on the night to raise as much money as possible. Please email yfstabs@gmail.com or contact Julie in the office to purchase tickets. Tickets will be available after church and on the night. Come and support the YF and have a great evening together!! Invite your friends!!

 3. Christian Aid Week

On Saturday 21st May from 10am to 12 noon, there will be a Christian Aid Bake Sale outside Abbey Church in the High Street. Please come and buy some delicious baking, preserves and home-made soup, for cash donations only.

Also on Saturday 21st May from 10am to 12 noon, a Christian Aid Plant Sale is being held in Links Road, Longniddry (opposite the shops). There will be a wide variety of garden plants for sale.

On Sunday 29th May from 11am to 3pm, we are hosting a Christian Aid Raffle Stall at Dirleton Market on the Green. Local businesses and church members have been most generous in their gifts of raffle prizes. Please come along and win some!

Cash and cheque donations to Christian Aid will be accepted at all these events, or you can give online at: envelope.christianaid.org.uk/envelope/eh39-4ad

4. Scottish Coastal Clean Up

‘Lil is delighted to again be co-ordinating the Scottish Coastal Clean Up – Edinburgh to Berwick Upon Tweed from June 4 to June 8. Grab some mates, your gloves and help us #dolilthings by picking up litter at a beach or by a waterway near you!’

See https://www.dolilthings.org/blog/5/5/2022/scottish-coastal-clean-up-berwick-to-edinburgh for more details.

This is an excellent way for us, as a church, to be involved in our community and to express our care for God’s creation.

Is anyone in the congregation planning to to this with another local group? Please let me know and I can share details in next week’s news. If not, is there anyone in the congregation who would like to coordinate a group picking session? If so, let me know when you plan to do it and I’ll share the news next week.

5. Buy Baobabs for Barbara’s 90th!

Barbara Reid writes: This year, 2022, I will reach the age of 90, and to mark the event I intend to climb North Berwick Law, which rises 168m from its car park. In doing this, I hope to raise enough for Tree Aid to plant at least 90 Baobab trees. Please support me at: www.justgiving.com/Barbara-REID4

6. Prayer

Each Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88152470672?pwd=WHpUOVdWN3NpSTBCUjF3aDRhcE1Ldz09

Meeting ID: 881 5247 0672

Passcode: StABPrayer

 

Neil